Meet Detective Chief Inspector John Blizzard — burly and blunt. He takes no nonsense from crooks or his superiors.

When former industrialist Dennis Smart is found dead at the bottom of his grand staircase, it looks like a tragic accident. But DCI John Blizzard isn’t convinced.

Smart was once a powerful figure in Hafton — until the sudden collapse of his engineering firm left nearly 200 people out of work. Rumours of fraud, betrayal, and dodgy bookkeeping never quite disappeared. And neither did the anger.

As unrest flares in the city, and an arson attack targets the derelict factory, Blizzard suspects someone is settling old scores. But with pressure from the Chief Constable to steer clear of the Smart family — and a firebrand ex-union man stirring up unrest — Blizzard must tread carefully.

Then another death blows the case wide open. And this time, it’s murder.

A tense and timely police procedural where the past refuses to stay buried — and justice comes at a cost.

Perfect for fans of Peter Robinson, J.R. Ellis, Bill Kitson, and Ann Cleeves.

DCI John Blizzard is a man out of step with the modern force — and proud of it. Fiercely principled, inflexible under pressure, and loyal to his instincts, Blizzard won’t be told where he can and can’t look. With his partner Fee Ellis on maternity leave and his first child due any day, he’s determined not to let personal change soften his edge — even if it puts him on a collision course with his superiors.

Set in Hafton, a city of boarded-up factories and fading working-class pride, the story moves from the once-thriving Smart & Co. factory to smoky pubs and the sterile corridors of Hafton General Hospital. As class tension simmers and political grudges rise, the city becomes a powder keg — and someone is holding a match.

THE SERIES HAS OVER 7000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent murder mystery storyline, enjoyed the read.”
— Kindle Customer
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book, keeps you on your toes, with an unexpected twist at the end. Well worth picking up to read.”
— Kerry
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another great book. The banter between Blizzard and the team is so good. The way he deals with the cases is really good. A must read.”
— Mulli
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another well written and crafted story from John Dean. Lots of action with plenty of twists and turns and an exciting ending.”
— Kindle Customer
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A thoroughly entertaining read, with realistic characters who continue to develop as the series of DCI Blizzard books keeps improving. Highly recommended.”
— John O
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love this writer and this book did not disappoint.”
— Sue Armstrong
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was a different direction of investigation, looking for a shooter with a list of people to kill, including cops.”
— Susan Green
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ All of John Dean’s books are good but I love DCI Blizzard! The books are carefully plotted and the characters are well written. I hope there are many more books in the series. I highly recommend this book!”
— Elizabeth P.
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good addition to the DCI Blizzard series. The author has another series that I like as well, the DCI Harris series. No nonsense detective with interesting plot turns.”
— J Austen
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Just wasn’t long enough. I like DCI Blizzard and would like to know more about him.”
— Zippie 65